Roster Report

--F Dirk Nowitzki entered Wednesday averaging 19.6 points over his previous five games. He scored 19 points by halftime against New Orleans and finished with a game-high 32 points to go along with six rebounds. Dallas was 9-3 when Nowitzki scored 30-plus this season.

--F Shawn Marion became just the fifth player in NBA history to record 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks. He joined Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett and Julius Erving. Marion reached the steals milestone at the 4:09 mark of the first quarter.

--F Peja Stojakovic wasn't with the team Wednesday due to a personal issue. The veteran is expected to rejoin the team Thursday.

MEDICAL WATCH

--F Caron Butler (right knee) is "extremely unlikely" to return for the first round of the playoffs, coach Rick Carlisle told espn.com. Butler ruptured his patella tendon on New Year's Day. There's a chance he could return sometime during the playoffs. --G Dominique Jones (stress fracture) is out indefinitely.

--G Roddy Beaubois (sprained left foot) left in the first half Wednesday against New Orleans did not return.